Brittany was designing a space under construction into a home for her mom. See how she transformed the empty room into a gorgeous living area.

Homeowner: Brittany G, Interior & Architectural Photographer

Location: Florida

Room: An under-construction carriage house for mom

Her Style: Mod Visionary

The Backstory

Designing a space under construction into a comfortable home for mom

My design struggles began when my family took on the task of constructing a carriage house in our backyard. This was going to be for my mother to live in, so we wanted to make sure she had a space that felt homey and beautiful from day one.

Brittany’s Space Before

The Design Dilemma

Needing a design solution for an unfinished space, and needing it fast

The space I was designing was under construction, which made it so difficult to visualize as it only had subfloor and sheetrock. I didn’t know how to get started!

Mostly, I needed help figuring out the right layout for the living area, as it’s a fairly small room. I knew it could be an amazing space but I didn’t want it to feel overcrowded or too sparse.

Brittany’s Modsy Design 2

The Modsy Moment

Envisioning a bare space transformed into an inviting and elegant apartment for mom

I actually found out about Modsy through Instagram – I was scrolling through my feed and saw an ad that looked amazing!

I had some vague ideas about how to fill the room but was reluctant to invest in furniture without knowing how it would look in the space. So when I saw the ad, I knew the ability to design in 3D was exactly what I needed.

“I was reluctant to invest in furniture without knowing how it would look in the space… When I got my Modsy designs back, I was shocked! The renderings were identical to my actual space!”

Of course when I first started with Modsy, I was skeptical of liking the results and being able to implement them. But when I got my designs back, I was shocked! I didn’t expect to love the designs to much and had no idea the renderings would look so real – they were identical to my actual space!

Brittany’s Modsy Design 2 Top Down View

How Modsy’s Renderings Helped Brittany

Figuring out how to outfit a small, empty space while it was under construction

The carriage house still had subfloor and no paint or cabinets when I sent the photos to Modsy. I couldn’t begin to imagine how it would look as a finished space. It was so helpful and fun to see the possibilities of how it could turn out!

From the start I knew that I wanted to have more seating than just a single couch, but I had no idea what we could fit without making it feel too cramped. Modsy helped us “try out” four different layouts in the space so we could see all of the options.

Brittany’s Modsy Design 2

“It was so helpful and fun to see the possibilities of how it could turn out… I couldn’t have done it on my own.”

Overall my second design was my favorite. Modsy suggested a couch plus two comfy chairs, which worked perfectly! We also needed to hang the TV on a specific wall so the layout and design direction turned out to be exactly what we were looking for! I couldn’t have done it on my own.

Brittany’s Modsy Design 2

The Real Results

Finding the ideal furniture layout for a small space

I loved being able to visualize and shop for the finished living room before construction was complete. My Modsy designs helped me get a head start on ordering furniture, which I loved because some items had a long lead-time.

Modsy definitely helped us turn our dreams of having a comfortable and beautiful space for my mom into reality. We set up the house almost identical to Design 2 and we are so happy with it! The 3D renderings definitely helped us settle on furniture, decor and layout and we couldn’t be happier with the results.

When he moved into his new apartment, Alec wanted to make sure all his furniture would fit before he made the commitment.

Homeowner: Alec O, Software Engineer

Location: Boston, MA

Room: Brand New High-Rise Apartment

His Style: Mod Visionary

The Backstory

A brand new apartment called for brand new furniture

When I moved into my new apartment I had a single sofa, a coffee table, and a lot of empty space to fill. I knew wanted to create a space to entertain friends and relax in. Having a small dining area as well as a space for a group to gather and watch TV was part of the plan. I was also planning to adopt a dog soon, so furniture that was pet-friendly was top-of-mind for me.

So with all that in mind, I knew I needed some more seating, a dining table, and functional lighting, but I wanted to figure out what the furniture looked like in the room before I bought anything.

Alec’s Apartment Before

The Design Dilemma

Struggling to imagine the possibilities without seeing it all together

Finding the right layout for my room and coordinating the colors of my furniture were super important to me. Since I was planning to purchase some quality foundational pieces, I wanted to make sure they all worked together before I bought anything.

The problem was I had a really difficult time visualizing how everything would look together. The art of pairing things, like a rug and artwork in the same room, totally escaped me – I just couldn’t imagine how it would look.

Alec’s Modsy Design 1

The Modsy Moment

When a word-of-mouth recommendation came at just the right time

A coworker of mine mentioned that he’d recently used Modsy to design his living room. He told me that it really helped him figure out whether or not everything would fit in his existing space.

I’ll admit I was a little unsure about the whole thing – I wasn’t convinced they could really recreate my room virtually, and I wasn’t quite sure how much furniture they’d have available for me to choose from.

Alec’s Modsy Design 2

How Modsy’s Renderings Helped Alec

Discovering new layout, color, and accent ideas to create his own apartment design

It turned out that Modsy was able to recreate a perfect 3D version of my room, and I was impressed by how lifelike the renderings were. I loved the colors in my first design and I how my designer took my suggestions into consideration when creating the space.

For example, I mentioned that I was getting a puppy and I thought it was cute that they incorporated a dog bed into my design.

There were layout ideas in both designs that I would not have thought of on my own which was incredibly helpful.

“I mentioned that I was getting a dog and I thought it was cute that [my Modsy designer] incorporated a dog bed into my design.”

The 3D renders allowed me to see that I could fit an extra side chair in my living space, so I’d have more seating when I had people over. They also showed me I could fit entire dining set, which I hadn’t thought I’d have space for.

I also didn’t realize that I liked more of a blue color scheme with mid-century furniture, but my Modsy designs totally sold me on the look!

Alec’s Modsy Design 2

The Real Results

Welcoming new furniture – and a new puppy – into the mix

The first design worked best for me. I liked that it was functional but still had some style to it. I loved the layout and the use of brass and natural textures.

And while my initial set of designs didn’t 100% fit my style (I’d expected that I would need to make some tweaks), I ended up combining the two together to create my final design. I liked the organic textures from the first design so I kept the jute pouf, bird of paradise plant, and swapped in a side chair with a more natural weave.

Alec’s final Modsy Design

I also kept a lot of the brass accents from my second design, and I ended up getting the artwork from the that design as well. I also really liked the look of white ceramic accents so I pulled that into my final look too.

The visualization of the final space was super helpful when deciding what pieces to purchase. I bought most of the furniture in my final renderings, and was able to see how they looked with the sofa and coffee table I already owned (which, I found, were available in the Modsy 3D catalog).

Arthur, my new corgi pup, and I are enjoying breaking in the space together.

See Alec’s Apartment Design In Real Life!

Need help finding apartment design ideas for your space?

Are you a fan of modern spaces with minimal styling? Do you dig any room with a retro look that reminds you of Mad Men? Is your bookmarks page filled with mid-century furniture you have your eye on? If so, there’s a good chance your Modsy style is Mod Visionary.

Our most popular style, Mod Visionary mixes mid-century forms with clean styling. This Modsy style is great for small space living, making it popular among city dwellers. (As opposes to our suburban homeowners, who tend to prefer a more rustic and cozy look).

Want more Mod Visionary? Keep scrolling to see how we shook up the look for 2018 and learn 7 ways to work the style into your home. If you’re curious what your Modsy style is, take our Modsy Style Quiz to find out.

1. Start With Sleek & Clean Lines

Our 2018 take on Mod Visionary is all about keeping to clean lines. You want to start with simple base of furniture and then layer a few sculptural accents on top.

2. Bring in Mid-Century Forms

Once you establish a clean foundation, your next step is to mix in some mid-century modern forms. Think tapered legs, geometric prints, and organic shapes.

Combine a modern sectional with pieces that sport some serious mid-century lines. This combo creates a room that’s balanced and modern, but doesn’t sacrifice comfort.

3. Get Comfortable

Modern spaces often get a bad rap as cold and uncomfortable. But mid-century modern designers were actually obsessed with making furniture that was affordable and functional.

Too keep our Modsy style true to these values, the Mod Visionary look is all about comfort. Swap a side chair for comfy upholstered armchair. Add function and style with a mid-century credenza. And add a woven pouf and a soft graphic rug to make the space warm and homey.

4. Make It Family Friendly

An alternative to poufs, try a wouf for a stylish alternative that pets can enjoy. Replace the coffee table with a large round surface. And add a leather sofa that can stand up to some wear in high-traffic rooms.

5. Mix in Mod Accents

Small graphic elements are essential for rounding out modern spaces. The more visually impactful the better!

Layer in high-contrast art and an organic shaped lamp on top of a mid-century credenza. These pieces play up the modern look while keeping a minimalist edge.

3. Add in Organic Shapes

You can’t go wrong with organic designs that add visual interest to your modern space.

Consider hanging a sculptural pendant or pulling in an organic shaped chair. Throw in some abstract pillows or a chunky jute rug to give your modern space a touch of texture and pattern.

7. Keep It Neutral

Mid-century modern design favored organic and earth-toned colors. If you’re looking to stay true to the style’s origins, opt for a neutral palette of greens, browns, yellows, and neutrals. These colors pair well with warm and natural woods. Another favorite material among mid-century modern design.

Want to try the Mod Visionary look in your home?

We can all relate to Kevin Grieco’s “decorating paralysis” with his tiny living room. See how Modsy helped him move forward—and complete the space.

Homeowner: Kevin Grieco, systems engineer and IT whiz

Location: Medford, MA

Room: Tiny pass-through living room

His Style: Atomic Industrial

The Backstory

Turning 1300 Square Feet into a Home

My wife Toni (pictured above) and I live with our Corgi, Moose (also pictured above), in a small, single family house that we bought four years ago and never really ‘made a home’ due to decorating paralysis. It was gutted and refinished top to bottom so it looks fresh for a 100-year-old Colonial in Massachusetts, but at around 1300 square feet with six rooms spread across two floors, it’s a challenge to use the space efficiently. And our living room, in particular, was badly in need of some direction.

The Design Dilemma

Feeling overwhelmed (and paralyzed) by everything

Our big problem with the living room was a lack of vision. Despite the fact that we are both creative people in our own right, neither of us have ever had an eye for interior design. There is just something so challenging about conceptualizing what will be both beautiful and functional, especially in a small home where efficiency is at a premium. This “tetris” problem of figuring out the right furniture arrangement combined with our tendency to not look at decor holistically had left us feeling paralyzed and apathetic. So, our primary living space languished for years after we moved in. This was what we wanted to solve.

The Modsy Moment

When he finally had to google “interior design help oh god please help me i have no taste”

I first found out about Modsy through what I can only describe as digital flailings of desperation. I forget exactly what I googled to stumble upon Modsy, but it was something to the effect of “interior design help oh god please help me i have no taste.” Being an IT nerd and a visual person, the concept of a 3D rendering-based service immediately excited me and it was easy to convince my wife to give it a shot considering the low cost of entry compared to hiring a real-life designer.

How Modsy’s Renderings Helped Kevin

Finding and seeing the exact furniture he needed to buy, once and for all

When I first got the Modsy renderings my response contained expletives that I won’t include here. But suffice it to say that I was extremely impressed. I took screenshots of a few angles of the renderings and sent them to all my friends who had been in my living room, and they were equally dazzled.

I couldn’t believe how accurate it was and the various arrangements immediately gave us so many ideas about how we could break up our space. Being able to visually see finished layouts like that completely broke through our ‘designer’s block.’

We bought a few big, structure-defining pieces straight from the suggested products pages that the Modsy team sent us, and then added a few of our own antique and furniture store finds—something that we were able to do with relative confidence now that we had such a secure ‘grounding’ thanks to the Modsy Style team.

I must have sent 20 pages worth of wordy emails to my Modsy Style Advisor over the course of my experience, and she was so receptive and supportive of all my input every time, being both professional and personal in perfect balance. She provided me with at least three additional renderings and a dozen different decor options. I genuinely don’t think I have had a better customer service experience in my entire life.

I would recommend Modsy to anyone looking for a premium-feeling, highly personalized interior design experience for a fraction of hiring a traditional professional.

From render to reality. Kevin's living room is coming together based off his favorite Modsy designs.

From render to reality. Kevin's living room is coming together based off his favorite Modsy designs.

From render to reality. Kevin's living room is coming together based off his favorite Modsy designs.

From render to reality. Kevin's living room is coming together based off his favorite Modsy designs.

Need a little design help? Try a Modsy rendering for yourself!

Style Spotlight: Mod Visionary

Do you dig a retro look almost as much as you crave a clean space? Do sleek forms and modern styling set your heart aflutter? If so, then chances are your style is what Modsy calls “Mod Visionary.”

The Mod Visionary look combines Mid-Century Modern forms with minimalist styling and colors. Our most popular style, browse through some of our favorite customer spaces to see if Mod Visionary is the look for you!

Big Space / Small Space:

No matter how many square feet you have to work with, our Mod Visionary collection is poised to work anywhere. Ripe with open-base pieces, this collection is full of furniture perched atop tapered legs to ensure an open and airy feeling in any room.

This small living room looks full and functional without feeling stuffed. The elevated sofa and coffee table create the illusion of weightlessness while also visually balancing the two dense side tables.

This open living room/dining room feels equally full and thought-out. To fill up the larger space, we opted for the sectional version of the mid-century styled sofa, a dynamic piece that comes in a variety of sizes and shapes to suit any interior.

This customer’s space also features our Mod Visionary collection, but it takes on a whole new function as a dining room. The open space accommodates a storage piece and an expandable dining table. Pro tip: place your extra dining chairs on either side of the credenza to avoid over-crowding your dining table.

A much smaller space, this dining room lives in close proximity to the living room. To work within such a small footprint, we swapped a glass-top dining table to visually open up the space and create an uncluttered look. No space for a credenza? A petite bar cart provides just the right amount of storage for a small space.

In the Zone:

Two spaces are better than one, and our Mod visionary collection is ready to tackle them all. This customer’s open floor plan was in need of some zoning to create two distinct areas. Turning the sofa away from the dining area helped visually divide the room, while still keeping the visual harmony of the space in tact.

First Impressions:

Have an entryway in need of a spruce? Mod Visionary has you covered. This customer had a lot of wall space to work with, so we ramped up the storage with a dining room credenza. We also love the play between the geometry of the doors and credenza. Yes way, entryway!

Architecturally Accommodating:

What really makes this style such a crowd pleaser, is its ability to work in a variety of environments. You don’t have to own a modern, all-white everything kind of home to enjoy Mod Visionary decor. A style that agrees with all kinds of homes, Mod Visionary works in contemporary estates to Southwestern bungalows, and it even looks right at home amongst high ceilings and Victorian cornices.

Want more Mod Visionary? See how it looks in your own space and get started today!